HMRC Recruitment process and the job itself

bainbridge · 14 Apr 2018 at 06:55

Hi folks

I've applied online on the Civil Service website for a role as a Compliance Caseworker for HMRC.

Does anyone know approximately how long the recruitment process takes or have any first hand experience of working for HMRC?

I've done the online tests as part of the application and got:

Numerical reasoning: scored above 79% of people who took the test.

Verbal reasoning: scored above 89% of people who took the test.

Civil service judgement test: scored above 69% of people who took the test.

It's been a week now since applying and taking the tests but my application status just says: "application on hold following civil service judgement test".

The 69% above others who took the test was ny poorest score and the feedback says making effective decisions is a development area for me. One of the specific job requirements is making effective decisions!

Just wondering if I've put the kibosh on my application with that poor score or am I reading into this too much?

Also like I mentioned above if anyone works in HMRC compliance I'd appreciate a few words from them about working there

Thanks

bainbridge · 14 Apr 2018 at 09:13

Thanks for your response Josh. The application deadline was 7th April so I'll just have to wait.

bainbridge · 15 Apr 2018 at 22:21

Moses said:
They used to have people on courses which would result in qualifications with which they could jump ship to the private sector. No longer. They also used to train people properly. No longer. Then it used to be the case that the terms and conditions were great... they're still not bad, but they're slowly eroding them whilst only giving real terms pay cuts year on year... so less money in real terms every year for a worse working environment.

All the older people I know who work for them tell the younglings to get out asap, and all the younglings I know who work there try and jump ship asap (eg. bail to another department... which you can in many instances do straight away, but for some jobs you just need to serve your probation... so once you're out of that the Civil Service is their oyster).

A fairly dark picture you've painted there moses

Surely it can't be that bad?

bainbridge · 17 Apr 2018 at 21:32

Moses said:
For new people it's okay right now, if you accept they won't fund qualifications with which you can easily jump ship to the big four. The problem in the medium term is the change to regional centres - 5/7 shifts with a number of weekdays being 12-8 and weekends being 8-4 would obviously make it significantly worse than a normal 9-5 job, for example. Morale overall is terrible because all the old people are on full flexi contracts and are just sitting on them until they retire or kicked out if they can't or won't move to a regional centre... so their hours are okay, but they've been having pay cuts for quite a while now (which in a sense has affected new starters... even though obviously someone starting a job now is getting less in real terms than the job got five years ago, for example).

Have you applied for the Bristol HO jobs? I think they're pencilled into to be moving to their regional centre in about a year, so you may avoid 5/7 for a while... because so many people are still on the old contracts, loads of offices are still mon-fri with full flexi for new joiners (the 5/7 contracts being suspended/not invoked yet).

Personally I'd view it as a good means to an end... get in, do stuff which helps competencies, develop yourself, etc, etc... then move on if it's not great. The rank and file tend to be great people, tbf. I think the area you're in can also make a massive difference - large business/FIS/etc being better than ISBC where you might just grind through basic areas on tax returns.

Thanks for the response Moses.

I'm in Bristol and selected Bristol only on the application but have no idea which actual office they want me in. The application says that there will be 2 possible training routes: Either as a tax professional or the tax roadway.

I have an easy commute at the moment so having to bus it (the metro still isn't open) into town every day will be a pain.

If I were to take the job as a means to move on in a year or so which department would you recommend?

Also what are the big 4?

Thanks

bainbridge · 24 Jan 2019 at 12:51

man from bath said:
Hi Moses

I start in mid November in Bristol

My initial offer said Monday to Friday then formal offer said 5 out of 7?

I’m guessing this is preparing me for when the new building opens,?

Anyhow I’m looking forward to it, any advice,?

How are you getting on now? Looking at reapplying and would be interested to know.

bainbridge · 29 Jan 2019 at 22:05

Well I reapplied and the deadline was today, application currently on hold after the online tests.

bainbridge · 31 Jan 2019 at 21:25

DanTheMan said:
I finally got a provisional offer in November after passing the interview in April. I then had to have the pre employment checks completed before I could get a formal offer and I had heard some horror stories of people waiting 6+ months at this stage.

Luckily, it all went smoothly and I received a formal offer on 23rd January to start on 25th February as a tax compliance caseworker.

Well done Danny glad you're starting soon.

The closing date for my application was Tuesday so it could just be 10 short months if I'm lucky!